Now that you bought all the things you need for college and your room is filled to the brim with piles and piles of small stuff that needs to be placed somewhere so you can have a quick college move-in. Where do you begin? I know it can be overwhelming. Move-in day will be stressful for all parents and their children, especially if it is their first year going away. I hear you! I've been you! I did this when I had to go off to college and move in by myself. Then, 28 years later I helped my son move into college. And, now this year, moving my daughter into her dorm is another adventure altogether. I've become somewhat of an expert in the quickest way to move it. Today, I am going to give you effective tips on how to pack for a quick college move-in day this year.

Have small tools handy.

Bringing, a hammer, screwdrivers (Phillips and flathead), maybe even an electric drill helped. Also, having a supply of 3M Command strips, recommended adhesives (like painters tape) for posters, suction cups that hook to the wall, and other things that help adhere objects to the wall makes for a faster set up. Carry extra batteries just in case you forgot to add batteries to something when you assembled it at home. I did find placing these items all in one go to bag gave us a single point to find these items.

Move items in bins with lids.

If you have to drop off your stuff in a big bin then move it to the dorm, it can be stressful with small things falling all over the place while transferring them into this bin. Storing items in containers where they will be staying for the remainder of the year works best. I like these large drawer bins that can be carried and stored directly under the bed for easy access.

Divide your stuff into zones before leaving the house.

Organize and sort the items into the following zones: cleaning, closet, drawers, cooking (fridge/microwave supplies), bathroom, and desk areas. If you can, do this in your home before leaving so you can see what you don't have. Gather the rest of the stuff from around the house and place in these zones. Then compare your stuff to our checklist: TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE YEAR Next, check off the items you have. And purchase the things you don't have. Remember the list is complete but if you don't need something on the checklist, cross it off to customize it to your situation.

Label your bins before you leave.

"Assign a place for every single item" is a mantra every organizer knows and teaches our clientele. This mantra also applies to dorm rooms. After you create zones, determining what goes in those zones is where you get more precise. This step is where you ask, what group will be in this zone. Then, you can determine what to label your bins. Using a label maker like these I found on Amazon, with a larger label 1/2 inch or bigger label works best so you can see it no matter where you are in the room.

You can also make your labels by using Avery Templates. If you choose to make it yourself, they will most likely be paper and have extra glue on the back because they are intended for shipping.

You can also get sleeves and slide paper labels into them. Be sure you find sleeves that are tighter at the opening because they can easily slide the papers out in transit.

Be in touch with your roommates.

Reach out and communicate with what you are willing to make communal items in the dorm or suite. The university will provide you with the email address of the other roommates. Discussing what each person will bring like refrigerators, microwave, bathroom supplies, bathroom organizers, cleaning supplies, etc... will save you money as well as minimize the amount of stuff you need to carry. It's a win-win for all. Also, ask them what time their arrival time is so you know if you will see them when you arrive and if it will be crowded in the dorm.

Check the website with the dorm information the day before your move-in day.

Sometimes things change. Checking the day before will give you a heads up on what will be happening the next day. Visiting the floor plans and layout of the dorm also helps so you know where you will be walking when you enter the dorm.

Get a safety box and security cables for valuables and place the valuables in them and securing them in a large bag to hide what they are.

It's better to be safe than sorry. Investing in a safety box and security cables are essential. Your roommates may be great, and you trust them. But, they may accidently leave the door open, or invite someone in that isn't so honest. Before you leave, fill up the safety box with all your valuables. There is usually a large amount of space inside the safety box that you can maximize with stuff. If you don't have a lot, you can wrap the items in towels you are taking and place them inside the safety box, so the pieces don't rattle around and break.

Gather hanging clothes and add a kitchen bag over the clothes with the hangers showing.

By leaving the hanging items on their hangers and cover them up with a bag, it will save you time having to place items on hangers. Find hangers that are thin with grips to help keep the things on the hangers when moving them.

Have all your decorating items in one bag.

Have your posters and adhesives in one bag, so it is easy to put them up right away. This can go near the tool bag you created to quickly decorate the room.

Take advantage of the rental opportunities for dorm fridges and microwaves.

Some schools require you to rent refrigerators and microwaves if you want them. This is an excellent option because you don't have to carry them in; they are usually delivered directly to the dorm room.

Purchase bedding packages from the third party and have it delivered to the dorm.

A lot of schools offer this as an option, so people don't have to carry bedding to the dorm. It contains the comforter, sheets, and other things. It tends to be bulky, so it will take a lot of space in a dorm. I found that using an extra large vacuum seal bag with all the winter linens in it vacuumed down to about 3 inches thick works nicely to save space in the car. Here are some examples from Amazon. (affiliate)

Set up the sweaters and winter accessories in bins before you leave home.

Having a bin (12 in. x 12 in. x 12 in.) with all the winter accessories in it is super easy to set up when you are home because you are not using these items. Filling up the bins with sweaters, fuzzy socks, gloves, and scarves allows you to easily transport them to the dorm with minimal disruption of the items.

Taking the time to do all of these tips before you move into your dorm at college, will allow you the freedom to spend time enjoying the decorating process and the last few hours with your family. I hope this post helps you make your transition to college a smooth one. If you have any tips from your experience, please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.

(Visited 1,148 times, 5 visits today)

About Sabrina Quairoli

I love sharing my passion for organizing life and the home. I hope you get inspired when visiting my home organizing tips, quick weeknight recipes, party planning ideas, and DIY organizing projects.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Dorm move in day is super chaotic, so any bit of organization helps. I once wrote a blog post called "what not to bring to college". Those dorm rooms are usually small, is NOT bringing something is just as important is what you bring.

I agree with Seana about how much fun it was preparing, organizing, and moving our daughters into their dorm rooms. What an exciting time of transition! Each college had very different procedures for moving in. But even so, the more organized we were in advance, the easier it was for them to unpack and prepare their spaces. It all started before they left with making the lists of things we needed, collecting the items they wanted into labeled bins, and preparing emotionally for the big "move-in" day. One of the containers I found especially useful was the large foldable fabric zipper bag/bins. We used them to move big and bulky items like shoes and bedding. The great thing about them was that after we emptied the bags, they folded up small and stored away easily until we move-out day.

This is such an exciting time! We had so much fun moving both of our girls into school. One thing I learned is that different schools have different policies about what can be brought into the rooms and hung on the walls. Some schools, for example, allow kids to only cover a certain percentage of their walls with decorations. I totally agree on renting the microfridge. So much easier than toting your own, especially if you will be living in a dorm into which the school will deliver it. I have to laugh remembering how much we prepared, and how some of my girls' male friends threw a bunch of stuff into trash bags the day before they left 🙂

Amazon Disclosure

Sabrina's Organizing blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.